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The ads should have an easy to use way of giving feedback that actually does something the viewer wants. For instance, it could allow the viewer to say (with a

The ads should have an easy to use way of giving feedback that actually does something the viewer wants. For instance, it could allow the viewer to say (with a couple clicks, and without leaving the page): I already purchased this I already purchased a competing product I am not interested in this anymore I was never interested in this I don't want this displayed because it might reveal something private to an onlooker (example: gift purchase for spouse) I'm not interested in this product but I might be interested in competing products I'm in the market for ______________ and I don't mind getting ads for them Thanks for the reminder, not now but maybe later Ads that track me really annoy me This would allow the viewer to feel more in control (assuming the advertiser actually attempts to respect their wishes) as well as giving them valuable feedback (that they can decide for themselves how meaningful it is). It might reduce the number of people that install ad blockers. I'm one of those that these ads are likely to be effective on: I often browse Amazon or Ebay and don't make a purchase, but will purchase it later when I'm reminded and am in the right mood to spend a bit of money. I don't mind them tracking me....most of the time. Right now I'm seeing a lot of ads for skateboard wheels, digital pianos and Dremel bits.... and I actually kind of like those ads because those are things that make me happy, and I have no ill will whatsoever for people that manufacture those things. I also have no ill will for the site I am on and would like them to have a revenue model. But I don't want them constantly trying to sell me women's bikinis just because, in a moment of weakness or boredom, I clicked on a picture of a cute girl because I wanted to see it bigger....and they won't simply let me tell them that.

munk-a 8y ago
Ads are not something that benefits me, the Ad viewer. I do not want to spend time training your marketing department. Your product is not entitled to my eyeballs. I will (personally) always strive to ignore your existence and minimize your advertising's impact on any of my decisions because your marketing department does not have my best interests at heart. Advertisements were something we grudgingly accepted for reduced service costs, IMO they have reduced their own value so far that the quantity we are expected to consume is ridiculous. I would really appreciate the whole industry getting regulated out of existence.
- robbrown451 8y ago
  Well that isn't going to happen, because most people don't feel that way. I disagree that every single entity that has a product they want me to know about doesn't have my best interests at heart. At the very least, my interests are aligned with companies that produce things that bring me value. In what sense does a company that produces that the skateboard wheels that go on my daughter's skateboard and my skateboard not have my interests at heart? The existence of that product (and the other necessary parts) brings the two us immense joy, disproportionate with the $20 a set they cost. I also don't really wish for the web sites that put ads on them to either go out of business or put up a paywall or something. I do, however support the idea of there being an easy way for you to pay a fair and reasonable subscription fee to see sites ad free. It would be great if all the biggest advertising companies (Google, Amazon, etc) came up with a plan for that, and individual web sites didn't have to deal with it beyond what they already do to show the ads.
  - munk-a 8y ago
    In the world we live in we have imperfect knowledge of the market, this is pretty much innate to having a world as big as ours is - thus for some purchases less money/effort/neosheckles could be potentially expended if you put some of that money into discovering a better deal. Part of what marketing does is to absorb that cost - were you paying 179.99$/mo to get cable so you can watch TV? Well, Netflix wants you to know that for just a fraction of that cost they can make your TV work as well. This portion of marketing is the portion I feel sad for because this is where people who are trying to (actually) offload excess inventory or to unseat an entrenched business fall. I object less (personally) to marketing that is trying to provide information, BUT, this sort of marketing can be passive - if you are selling a new type of device to clean carpets that is going to obsolete the vacuum cleaner, set up a website for anyone interested in cleaning products. Most advertising isn't of this sort and is instead trying to shift your decision making. If you really want good wheels for your daughter's skateboard does the fact that some crazy cartoon tiger thinks they're grrreat make them better wheels? Would you prefer to just have access to real information on the different wheels available to compare them by quality and price? This is a very difficult thing to solve because imparting knowledge neutrally is either impossible or something that we in the modern world have entirely unlearned, but I do believe the majority of customers do feel this way - we'd prefer to have access to that information when we want it and we'd really hope that it's being processed by a neutral third party that can cut all the BS out of the pitch.

munk-a 8y ago

Ads are not something that benefits me, the Ad viewer. I do not want to spend time training your marketing department. Your product is not entitled to my eyeballs. I will (personally) always strive to ignore your existence and minimize your advertising's impact on any of my decisions because your marketing department does not have my best interests at heart. Advertisements were something we grudgingly accepted for reduced service costs, IMO they have reduced their own value so far that the quantity we are expected to consume is ridiculous. I would really appreciate the whole industry getting regulated out of existence.

robbrown451 8y ago
Well that isn't going to happen, because most people don't feel that way. I disagree that every single entity that has a product they want me to know about doesn't have my best interests at heart. At the very least, my interests are aligned with companies that produce things that bring me value. In what sense does a company that produces that the skateboard wheels that go on my daughter's skateboard and my skateboard not have my interests at heart? The existence of that product (and the other necessary parts) brings the two us immense joy, disproportionate with the $20 a set they cost. I also don't really wish for the web sites that put ads on them to either go out of business or put up a paywall or something. I do, however support the idea of there being an easy way for you to pay a fair and reasonable subscription fee to see sites ad free. It would be great if all the biggest advertising companies (Google, Amazon, etc) came up with a plan for that, and individual web sites didn't have to deal with it beyond what they already do to show the ads.
- munk-a 8y ago
  In the world we live in we have imperfect knowledge of the market, this is pretty much innate to having a world as big as ours is - thus for some purchases less money/effort/neosheckles could be potentially expended if you put some of that money into discovering a better deal. Part of what marketing does is to absorb that cost - were you paying 179.99$/mo to get cable so you can watch TV? Well, Netflix wants you to know that for just a fraction of that cost they can make your TV work as well. This portion of marketing is the portion I feel sad for because this is where people who are trying to (actually) offload excess inventory or to unseat an entrenched business fall. I object less (personally) to marketing that is trying to provide information, BUT, this sort of marketing can be passive - if you are selling a new type of device to clean carpets that is going to obsolete the vacuum cleaner, set up a website for anyone interested in cleaning products. Most advertising isn't of this sort and is instead trying to shift your decision making. If you really want good wheels for your daughter's skateboard does the fact that some crazy cartoon tiger thinks they're grrreat make them better wheels? Would you prefer to just have access to real information on the different wheels available to compare them by quality and price? This is a very difficult thing to solve because imparting knowledge neutrally is either impossible or something that we in the modern world have entirely unlearned, but I do believe the majority of customers do feel this way - we'd prefer to have access to that information when we want it and we'd really hope that it's being processed by a neutral third party that can cut all the BS out of the pitch.